The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-23
WHAT HAPPENED.

WHAT HAPPENED.
Certainly nothing happened on Feb "a to
justify the House in refusing to operate with
the Senate If President Smiths signature
was good before Feb. "a, it was good after
Feb. 24.-Sentinel.
For the benefit of this innocent, and for the
purpose of stirring up the minds of the peo-
pie generally by way Of remembrance, the
Journal will tell what happened on the
oath of February ito justify the House in re-
fusing to operate with the Senate"
On the 23d of February the Supreme Court
of the State had unanimously dissolved the
injunction issued against Robert S. Robert
son, Lieutenant governor of the State, where
by he had been restrained from attempting to
assume the duties of presiding officer of the
Senate. The Constitution of the State of
Indiana provides that the "Lieutenant-go
ernor shall be President Of the Senate" On
the morning of the Oath of February
Lieutenant governor Robertson appeared in
the chamber of the Senate, and from
veracious chronicle of what then and there
transpired, we take such extracts as are nee
essary to tell the story:
GA few vigorous raps of the gavel we're
heard above the din. They caught the ear of
Lieutenant governor Robertson, who at once
started down the chamber to the Presidents
desk On the front steps leading thereto
stood D. E. Bulger, of Wells, an assistant
door keeper The Lieutenant governor put his
foot on the first step, when Bulger pushed
him back. The Lieutenant-governor again
attempted to ascend, when he was caught by
the guard and held for a moment, the Lieu
tenant-governor pushing forward. In an in
slant Bulger caught him by the throat, and
| with the other hand by the shoulder. Holding
| him thus for an instant, he threw him some
| fifteen or twenty feet from the steps. He
| saved himself from fall and = turned
| white but courageous face to the
! Senators. He exclaimed: 4 have been by
| force elected from the position to which the
people elected me- The Democratic Senators
were on their feet, one or two crying, Re
move that man from the floor while Smith
ordered him to keep silent. The Lieutenant
| governor again attempted to speak, and the
confusion was growing apace, when Senator
| Bailey said, arise to a point of order. Ii
| this gentleman has grievance let him present
it in the proper way and he will be heard
| "'The point of order is well taken, said
Smith. If this man persists in speaking
remove him from the floor
| 'Lieutenant-governor Robertson
stood calmly at the desk of the Secretary
waiting the end of the scene, when Senator
Huston said, rise to point of order
81 have nothing more to say,
remarked Senator Huston, as he quietly
| resumed his seat. Lieutenant governor Rob-
ertson then began again with, / still insist
on my right to be heard
"Captain Pritchett,' said Smith, remove
this man from the floor of the Senate
"Let the Senate do that and take the
responsibility, remarked Senator Campbell.
".Door- keeper Captain Pritchett,
shouted Smith, remove this man from the
floor and put him in the hall Senator Fow-
Ter, at this juncture, moved that the gentle
man be removed. This was carried by Dem
| ocratic votes"
This is what happened" 1t will do every
body good to recall the turbulent and dis
graceful scenes of the morning of the Oath Of
February, when the acknowledgement Of
the State, elected by the ballots of more than
hurled from the place to which he had
been chosen by cowardly bully, hired by
| Democratic usurpers and revolutionists tx
commit any sort of crime that might be
necessary to prevent the choice of the PEG
pie made at regular and legal election, from
taking constitutional effect. This is wha
happened" on the oath of February, and i
justified the House in refusing to operate
with Senate which thus Gefantly tramplee
upon the Constitution.